Adjustable stabilizing disk mounting



March 19, 1957 J. A. NORTHCOTE ETA!- 2,785,619

ADJUSTABLE STABILIZING DISK MOUNTING Filed June 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTORS. JOHN A. NORTHCOTE K ETH L. KIRKPATRICK March 19, 1957 J. A.NORTHCOTE ETAL 2,7

ADJUSTABLE STABILIZING DISK MOUNTING Filed June 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORS. JOHN A. NORTHCOTEI KENNETH L. KIRKPATRICK ATT'YSI UnitedStates Patent ADJUSTABLE STABILIZING DISK MOUNTING Application June 11,1953, Serial No. 360,952

6 Claims. (Cl. 97-409) The present invention relates generally toagricultural implements and more particularly to soil-workingimplements, such as disk tillers and the like, in which the soil-workingdisks occupy a position making an angle to the line of forward travel,whereby the pressure of soil against the disks creates a side thrustthat must be sustained in some way so that the implement may be held inthe proper position.

T he object and general nature of the present invention is the provisionof new and improved means, preferably in the form of a colterattachment, for sustaining the aforesaid side thrusts and holding theimplement to its work. More particularly, it is a feature of thisinvention to provide a new and improved colter attachment in which thecolter disk is made adjustable, both as to the position of the colter ina vertical generally fore-andaft extending plane relative to theremainder of the implement, and also as to the verticalposition of thecolter in the, colter attachment frame, whereby the implement maysuccessfully be operated under various soil conditions. Further, it is afeature of this invention to provide easily and conveniently madeadjustments for changing the position of the side-thrust-resistingcolter in accordance with or to compensate for changes in the workingangle of the disk tools so as to have the implement trail properly andthereby impose no appreciable side loads on the tractor that propels theimplement.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a new and improvedagricultural implement in the form of a tractor-mounted disk tiller orthe like, particularly adapted for use with tractors having what iscommonly termed a three-point linkage system, with new and improvedmeans to change and/or adjust the position of the working elements so asto accommodate a variety of tractor treads and a variety of differentoperating conditions, particularly with respect to the action of thetools in either throwing the soil up toward the vines or trees, in thecase of orchard and vineyard work, or pulling the soil away from thevines or trees, as desired.

Still further, another feature of, the present invention is theprovision of a new and improved colter attachment, which may optionallybe arranged so that the sidethrust-resisting colter may be disposed insuch position to readily accommodate work close to the vines, trees orthe like, without appreciable damage to either the trees, vines and thelike or their roots. i

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in. the art after a consideration ofthefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying draw ings, in which: i i

Figure l is a perspective view of a tractor-mounted disk tiller in whichthe principles of the present invention have been incorporated.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, with parts shown in section,showing certain details of the colter mounting and adjustments therefor.

Figure 3 is a side view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the colter frame in thedifferent positions, with the colter turned with respect to its position.as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 ofFigure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of the draft link-receiving part of thehitch frame structure.

Figure 8 is a side or end view of the hitch frame part shown in Figure7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 ofFigure 2 showing the manner in which the colter cap is attached to thecolter frame.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 10indicates in its entirety a soil-working imple ment in the form of apick-up disk tiller adapted to be mounted on a tractor 11 of the typehaving a threepoint hitch linkage, including an upper link 12 and a pairof lower links 13. These links are connected with the tractor for bothlateral and vertical swinging movement, and the rear ends of the links12 and 13 have ball connectors or the like connecting the links with theimplement 10, also for both lateral and vertical movement relalivethereto.

The disk tiller 10 includes a generally diagonally extending frame bar15, preferably square in cross section, and to each end portion of thebar 15 is secured rearwardly and downwardly extending bracket members16. To the lower end of each bracket 16 is connected a bearing structure17 that supports the adjacent end of the associated disk gang 18. Thelatter is made up of a plurality of soil-working disks 21, a gang bolt22 and suitable spacing spools 23. The disks and gang bolt are rigidlyinterconnected to form a unit and are rotatably supported in thebearings 17.

Secured to the frame bar 15 is a hitch frame structure 25, providing forconnection of the implement 10 to the hitch links 12 and 13 of thetractor. The hitch frame 25 includes a pair of relatively adjustablemembers 26 and 27, one being connected directly to the frame bar 15 andthe other carrying means to receive the ball connectors or other meansat the ends of the upper and lower hitch links 12 and 13.

As best shown in Figure l, the hitch member 26 re ceiving the disktiller frame bar 15 comprises a generally triangular plate 31 having adownwardly and rearwardly extended angular section 32 (Fig. 6) shaped toreceive and fit snugly against the forward and lower side of the framebar 15. This portion of the plate 31 is provided with apertures 33 andnotches 34 to receive clamping U-bolts 35 having clamp caps 36, by whichthe member 26 may be securely fixed to the frame bar 15. Further, byloosening the clamping bolts 35, the entire hitch frame unit 25 may beshifted along the bar 15 to different positions, whereby the disks 21may be brought into their proper position, laterally of the tractor, forthe desired operation. The member 26 also includes end bars 37 and 38securely fixed, as by welding, to the side edges of the plate 31. Theleft-hand bar38 is arcuate and is provided with a pair of bolt-receivingopenings 39, and each of the bars 37 and 38 is provided with anoverhanging lug 41 cooperating with the angular portion 32 of the plate31 to provide a socket receiving the frame bar 15. A short sleeve 43(Fig. 6) is secured, as by welding, to the end portion of the plate 31adjacent the bar 37 and in alignment with an opening 44 formed in theplate 31. The sleeve 43 is reenforced by a bracing gusset 45, alsowelded in position. i

The other member 27 of the hitch structure preferably takes the form ofa strap member 47 shaped, as best shown in Figure 7, to provide anarcuate section 48 having a plurality of apertures 49, and a lug section51, the sections 48 and 51 being rigidly interconnected by a generallydiagonally extending angle member 52 securely welded or otherwise fixedat one end to the end of the arcuate section 4-8 and securely welded orotherwise fixed at its other end to the lug 51 and the associatedportion of the strap member 47. This end of the angle member 52 isflattened and is apertured to receive a generally L-shaped pin member53, one portion of which is secured, as by welding, to the flattened endof the angle 52 and the other portion of which is bent laterallyoutwardly and secured, as by Welding, to an angle bracket 54, Which isalso welded to the strap member 47. The laterally outer end of theL-shaped pin 53 is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 55, to receivethe ball connector of the left-hand lower tension link 13 of thetractor. At the other side of the hitch member 27, the strap member 47is provided with a depending angular bracket 56 that is securely weldedto the member 47 adjacent the juncture of the arcuate section 48 withthe main portion of the member 47. The bracket 56 receives a short pin57 that is also reduced in diameter atits outer end and adapted therebyto receive the ball connector of the lefthand tension link 13.

Also forming a part of the forward hitch frame member 27 is a verticallyextending mast section 60. As best shown in Figure 1, this part of thedraft frame 25 comprises a plate member bent into generally U formation,thereby providing rightand left-hand side plate sections 61 and 62suitably spaced apart to receive therebetween the ball connector at therear end of the upper or compression link 12. To this end, the upperportions of the plate sections 61 and 62 are apertured to receive apivot pin 63 by which the rear end of the link 12 is swingably connectedwith the mast 60. The latter unit also includes a lower strap section 65having its forward end portion turned downwardly, as at 66, andapertured to receive a pair of attaching bolts 67 by which thedownturned portion 66 may be securely fixed to the central portion ofthe strap member 47. The mast 60 is rigidly connected with the diagonalangle member 52, and to this end, the latter member carries a centrallydisposed angle clip 68 that is welded to the angle brace 52 andapertured to receive an attaching bolt 69 that extends upwardly from theclip 68 into an aperture 71 formed in the rear end of the strap member65. Adjacent the opening 71, the central portion of the mast member 60is notched, as at 72, to provide access to the clamping bolt 69. Thetriangular plate member 31 is provided with a slot '74 that is arcuateabout the axis of the sleeve 43, whereby the rear frame member 26 may beshifted into different angular positions relative to the forward ormast-carrying frame member 27. By virtue of the plurality of openings 49in the arcuate section 48, the two frame members 26 and 27 may beconnected together in various selected angular relations by the simpleexpedient of loosening and removing the two bolts that extend throughthe openings 39 in the arcuate frame section 38 and disposing them inselected openings 49 of the arcuate section 48. By virtue of thisarrangement, the disk gangs maybe adjusted in five-degree steps from aposition making thirty-five degrees with respect to the transverse axispassing through the pins and 57 to a position making fifty degrees withrespect to said transverse axis. Thus, the working angle of the diskgang may be adjusted as desired or necessary to meet practically anysoil condition.

As mentioned above, the draft links 12 and 13 of the tractor 11 arecapable, not only of swinging vertically relative to the tractor, butalso swinging laterally, and since an angularly disposed gang of disksis subjected to considerable side thrusts when in operation, some meansshould be provided to prevent the disk gang from swinging laterally outof the proper trailing position. To this end, the present inventioncontemplates the provision of a side-thrust-resisting colter attachment,which will now be described.

The colter attachment of the present invention is indicated in itsentirety by the reference numeral 80 and, as best shown in Figure l, isadapted to be connected to the frame bar 15 at one side of the draftstructure described above and generally adjacent one end of the bar 15.

The colter attachment unit 80 includes an attachment frame 81 made up ofa generally triangular plate 82 and an encircling strap member 83 weldedto the edges of the plate 82. The latter member includes an angledsection 84 shaped to fit snugly against the forward and lower sides ofthe bar 15. The rear end of the encircling strap member 83 is extended,as at 85, to form lugs overhanging the upper side of the square bar,when the unit 89 is attached to the implement. The plate 82 is notched,as at 86, and apertured, as at 87, to receive clamping means 88 by whichthe frame 81 may be securely fixed to the bar 15. Like the unit 25, byloosening the associated clamping means, the colter attachment may beshifted to different positions along the bar 15. The frame 81 alsoincludes a vertically disposed sleeve member 91 securely welded to theplate 82 and the encircling strap member 83 with a portion of the sleeve91 extending above the plane of the strap 83.

A ground-engaging, side-thrust-resisting colter disk 95 is journaled forrotation on the transversely extending wheel spindle 96 that is fixed tothe lower end of a sleeve member 97 that, with the spindle 96, forms thecolter axle. The sleeve member 97 is dimensioned to fit snugly butmovably within the attachment frame sleeve 91 and is capable of bothrotational and axial movement therein. The upper end of the axle sleeve97 is provided with diametrically aligned openings 98 in which a nutmember 99 is disposed. The nut member 99 is provided with a centralscrew-threaded aperture 101 that is thereby adapted to receive a lowerthreaded end 102 of an adjusting crank 103.

A guide member 105 is disposed within the inner sleeve 97 and comprisesan elongated member having a generally vertically extending slot 106therein extending from a point near the lower end of the member 105 to apoint adjacent the upper end thereof. The slot 106 is dimensioned toslidingly receive the nut member 99. The upper end of the guide member105 is formed with a flanged head sect-ion 108 that overlies the upperend of the attachment frame sleeve 91, and the head 108 is extended, asat 109, and provided with a boss section 110 having spheroidal abutmentends 111. The upper end or head portion of the guide member 105 isformed with a cylindrical recess 112 that receives abutment meansassociated with the adjusting crank 103, to which reference will be madelater.

A cap member 115 is carried by the attachment frame 81 and comprises apart having an upper wall 116 and an encircling side wall 117, and fromopposite side wall portions a pair of laterally inwardly extending lugs118 are extended. These portions are apertured, as at 119, to providemeans receiving a pair of cap screws 121 by which the cap member 115 mayreadily be securely fixed to the attachment frame 81 so as to form apart thereof. The side wall 117 of the cap member 115 is provided withopposite transversely apertured bosses 125, the apertures 126 of whichare generally in alignment and threaded to receive adjusting screws 127.The parts are so shaped that when the cap member 115 is disposed inposition, the inner ends of the adjusting screws 127 are in a positionto engage and be locked against the spheroidal ends 111 of the guidemember lug 110. By loosening one of the adjusting screws 127- andtightening the other, the guide member may be rotated within the sleeves91 and 97, and since the slot 106in theguide -member 105 snuglyreceives't he nut member 99, which latter member has ends entering theopening 98 in the inner sleeve 97, the locking or adjusting screws 127form means whereby the guide member 105 may be rotated to rotate theaxle means of the colter about a generally vertical axis, thus changingthe position of the vertical plane in which the colter disk95 rotates,relative to the attachment frame and, of course, relative to theassociated disk gang. The parts areso arranged that the guide member 105may be shifted about fifteen degrees through theme of the adjustingscrews 127. It will be understood that for most operations the colterdisk should be arranged so that its plane of operation extends generallyin the direction of travel, with a slight toe-in and, therefore,whenever the disk gang and its draft frame member is adjusted relativeto the forward draft frame member, whichis attached to the tractorlinkage, so as to vary the angle of the disk gangs, a correspondingadjustment will be made in the position of the colter disk relative tothe colter attachment frame.

Experience has shown that the trailing characteristics of an implementof this kind are quite sensitive to changes in the lead of the colterdisk, and the use of set screws or adjusting screws 127 makes itpossible to provide very fine adjustment of the colter disk or blade.

The adjusting crank screw 103 is used for raising and lowering thecolter disk and its axle means relative to the attachment frame. To thisend, the upper portion of the adjusting crank 103 is apertured, as at131, and receives a cross pin 132 on which a pair of abutment rollers133 are disposed. These parts are so shaped that they serve as bearingmeans acting between the underside of the upper wall 116 of the capmember 115 and the bottom of the recess 112 in the upper end of theguide 105 so as to carry the loads imposed by the weight of theimplement and associated parts, or at least that portion thereof thatacts to force the colter disk 95 into the ground to the depth desired,the depth being varied by turning the crank 103 in one direction or theother so as to shift the colter sleeve 97 upwardly or downwardly withinthe attachment frame sleeve 91. At all times, of course, the plane ofoperation of the colter disk is maintained by the adjusting cap screws127 and the associated guide member 105 in which the colter raising andlowering nut member 99 is disposed.

When it is desired to operate with the tiller close to the trunks oftrees, vines and the like and to throw dirt away therefrom, it ispreferable to have the colter disk disposed on the inside of theattachment frame sleeve 91, rather than on the outside as shown inFigure 1. This may readily be arranged, according to the principles ofthe present invention, merely by, first, removing the attachment framecap 115, and then taking out the nut member 99, turning the colter axlesleeve 105 through 180 degrees and then reassembling the parts, bringingthem to the position shown generally in Figure 5. As shown in thisfigure, also, the attachment frame clamps 88 may be loosened and theattachment frame 81 shifted to the end of the frame bar so as to act asa bumper to keep the outermost disk from damaging the trees, vines andthe like. It will also be noted, particularly from Figure 4, that theend of the slot 106 limits the axial movement of the nut member 99, thelength of the threaded portion 102 of the crank 103 being sufiicient toprevent disengagement of the parts when the crank 103 is operated toshift the nut member from one end to the other of the slot 106.

It will also be noted that by loosening the clamps 36, the disk gang andits frame bar 15 may be shifted in either direction with respect to thehitch to accommodate a variety of tractor treads and maintain a propercut with the front or first disk. For throwing the soil up to the vines,trees or the like, the front disk can be moved close to the right wheelof the tractor, in which position it is capable of throwing soil beyondthe wheel,

and forpulling sofljaw i hq e -s trees the like, the disk gang isshifted in the opposite direction so as to bring the rear disk beyondthe left tractor wheel,- thus permitting cultivation close to theplants. Also, as mentioned above, in this position, it may be desirableto reverse the colter so that the colter disk is on the inside, ratherthan outside, of the attachment frame sleeve 91, as shown in Figure 5.

While we have shown and described. above the pre ferred structure inwhich the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, itis to be understood that our inventionis not to be limited to theparticular means shown and described above, but that, in fact, widelydifferent means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspectsof our invention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure ters Patent is:

1. A colter attachment for an agricultural implement or the like,comprising an attachment frame, a vertically disposable sleeve fixedthereto, a colter axle comprising a generally vertically disposableelongated member, said member being disposed within said sleeve andincluding an upper tubular section, a guide disposed within said tubularsection, means acting between said attachment frame and said guide forshifting the position of the latter generally about the axis of saidsleeve, means pro viding a telescopic non-rotatable connection betweensaid tubular section and said guide, and means acting between said guideand said elongated member for raising and lowering the latter withinsaid sleeve.

2. A colter attachment for an agricultural implement or the like,comprising an attachment frame, a vertically disposable sleeve fixedthereto, a colter axle comprising an elongated member disposable withinsaid sleeve and a disk-receiving spindle extending transversely. of saidmember adjacent the lower end thereof, said elongated member includingan upper tubular section, a generally vertically disposed guide memberdisposed within said tubular section and fixedly connected with saidframe, Said guide having a vertically extending slot therein, meanscarried by said tubular section and disposed guidingly in said slot,means for rotating said guide member so as to rotate said elongatedmember, and means acting between said frame and said elongated memberfor raising and lowering the latter within said sleeve relative to saidframe.

3. In an agricultural machine, a frame, a pair of telescopicallyassociated sleeves, the outer sleeve being fixed to said frame and theinner sleeve being shiftable axially of the outer sleeve, a part carriedby the inner sleeve and extending generally transversely of the latter,a guide member having a longitudinal slot receiving said part and disposed within said inner sleeve, and adjusting means fixedly connectingsaid guide member with said frame, said adjusting means acting againstsaid frame to shift said guide member and said inner sleeve about theaxis of said sleeves.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3, further characterized by saidpart comprising a nut member, and a crank screw acting between saidframe and said nut member for raising and lowering the inner of saidsleeves.

5. In an agricultural machine or the like, frame means, a generallyvertical sleeve fixed at its upper portion to said frame means, agenerally vertically shiftable member disposed Within said sleeve andcarrying a nut member, a screw-threaded crank member having ascrewthreaded connection with said nut member, a cap member detachablyfixed to said frame in embracing relation with respect to the upper endof said sleeve, abutment means carried by said crank member and engagingan interior surface of said cap member to prevent upward displacement ofsaid crank member, rotation of the latter in one direction actingagainst said cap member for forcing said nut member and said verticallyshiftable member downwardly relative to said sleeve and said byLetframe, a guide member having sliding diametrically reversibleconnection with said vertically shiftable member and said nut member anddisposed Within said sleeve, and means carried by said cap member forholding said guide member in selected positions of adjustment, saidguide member and said vertically shiftable member being n1ovableoutwardly from the upper end of said sleeve member when said cap memberis removed, thereby providing for removal of said nut member andreinstallation thereof after said vertically shiftable member has beenmoved through 180 degrees about the axis of said sleeve member. 6. Acolter attachment for an agricultural implement or the like,comprisingan attachment frame, a vertically disposable sleeve fixed thereto, acolter axle comprising a generally vertically disposable elongatedmember, said member being disposed within said sleeve and including anupper tubular section, a guide disposed within said tubular section,means acting between said attachment frame and said guide for shiftingthe position of the latter generally about the axis of said sleeve, andmeans providing a telescopic non-rotatable connection between saidtubular section and said guide. V

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS608,696 Matteson Aug. 9, 1898 773,610 Wagner Nov. 1,1904 1,035,039 PaulAug, 6, 1912 1,119,624 Milliken Dec. 1, 1914 1,368,733 Koontz Feb. 15,1921 1,472,768 Dickinson Oct. 30, 1923 1,509,310 Paul Sept. 23, 19242,244,774 Hewitt June 10, 1941 2,523,152 Seyferth Sept. 19, 19502,539,897 Davey et al. Jan. 30, 1951

